Veteran World War II pilot says he had close encounter during mission

Sixty-six years ago, during World War II, Everett Harris saw something he only spoke of sparingly to family members and a few close friends. EV, as he is known around the Summerfield retirement community where he lives, thought it might be time, at age 89, to reveal his experience without reprisal.

Calling it "The Mystery Spheres," Harris composed a three-page account of that experience. Part of the account reads, "... another pilot and I were flying in close formation on our way back to base ... Suddenly, two spherical objects, each bigger than a single-engine plane, appeared, flying not more than 20 yards off my left side, as if they were flying in formation with us."

Harris caught the attention of his wingman and pointed toward the globes. He said the wingman gave a shrugging motion with his shoulders, indicating he was as puzzled as Harris....